Page 83 of Keeping Amanda
“Of course it isn’t,” Tex said calmly. “But in her declining mental state, I’m guessing she truly believed it. The man—who was arrested for being in Guyana illegally—said that Blair wanted you taken, and she agreed they could take the older boys as well, as part of their payment. She was well aware that boys were often taken away from their families and forced to join the rebel army. He said the boys were supposed to be separated from the others, but when they arrived, the children were all together instead. So they just took them all.”
“But they didn’t even seem particularly interested in me at first,” Mandy protested. “Not until one of the men grabbed me. I thought it was because I refused to make little Bibi let go of me, when they were separating the kids from the adults.”
“I’m just telling you what the man said. All I know is that Blair was behind it. In addition to the older boys, she paid them funds from the orphanage as well. And apparently she was highly agitated when you showed up again. When thechildrenwere returned, she was thrilled. She’d gotten them back, which made the orphanage look both sympathetic and triumphant, but you were still gone. It was the perfect outcome for her. But then you came back. I think that’s when something in her snapped, and she lost what little common sense she still had.”
“Have you found her?” Buck asked, feeling sick inside at the confirmation that the woman had hated Mandy so much, she’d actually arranged for her to be kidnapped by dangerous rebels. She had to know what would happen. That Mandy would’ve been assaulted and eventually killed. And yet, she’d knowingly paid to make it happen…and usedchildrenas part of the payment. It was disgusting.
Tex sighed. “No. Ididfigure out how she got into thecountry with the little girl. She paid off a mule to smuggle them both in through a checkpoint in Juarez. They crossed at a busy time and were hidden inside a trunk. It was just bad luck that they weren’t discovered. Blair then bought a used car—again with funds she’d stolen from the school—and drove east.”
“So you know what kind of car she’s in,” Buck said, desperately trying to find a bright side to this phone call.
“We know what kind of car shewasin,” Tex corrected. “The car was found abandoned at the same park where Bibi’s body was found.”
“Shit,” Buck muttered.
“She’s in the wind, I’m afraid. She’s not using credit cards, and I’m guessing she’s changed her looks. But I’m not giving up. I’m gonna find her, Buck. I give you my word.”
“I know you will.”
“Thank you, Tex. I appreciate you helping me so much.”
“Don’t thank me,” the man on the other end of the phone said. “I haven’t done a damn thing yet. But this bitch isn’t going to win. She’s pissed me off now. Hang tight, Mandy. Her time’s a comin’. I’ll be in touch with more info soon.”
The phone connection ended, and Buck took a deep breath. It was either that or swear like a sailor, using all the words he’d learned from the Navy SEAL and Delta Force comrades he transported on a regular basis.
“We’re going out.”
“What?” Mandy asked, sounding confused.
“We’re going out,” Buck repeated. “We need a break. Both of us. You’re going stir crazy, and I can’t blame you. We need to stop thinking about that bitch for a few hours.”
Mandy turned in his arms. “Is it safe?”
“I’ll make sure of it,” Buck promised. “Nowhere fancy, just to Anchor Point. We can play some darts, have a beer and some kick-ass food, then come home. How’s that sound?”
“Awesome, actually. Nash…do you think I did something to make her hate me so much?”
“Absolutely not.” This right here was why she needed a break. He hated that Mandy continued to think for one second she was somehow at fault for anything that happened. “You went to South America with every good intention. I’m sure you worked your ass off at that orphanage to make sure every child felt loved and cared for. Becoming attached to Bibi wasn’t some malicious act on your part; sometimes people just click.”
“Like we did.”
“Like we did,” Buck confirmed.
“I can’t believe she paid those rebels to get rid of me,” Mandy said softly. “And it would’ve worked if you hadn’t been there.”
She was breaking his heart. Buck lifted her chin so he could look her in the eyes. “But Iwasthere. And you’re here. Safe. And I’m gonna keep you that way.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She nodded. “You’ve done more for me than anyone in my entire life, other than my parents. And it’s not out of obligation, because if it was, you would’ve said goodbye the second we touched down in Virginia.”
“Damn straight.”
She opened her mouth, and Buck braced himself to hear the words he’d dreamed of her saying. It was the perfect time, and he was more than ready to reciprocate.
But she swallowed hard and smiled up at him instead.
